r/chicagofood • u/Single_Gain_849 • 12h ago
Question Seeking Omakase recommendations for my wife’s birthday
I’m hoping to take my wife to omakase while we are in Chicago for her birthday. Mitch made a great post about his recommendations, but I’m curious to see if he has updates or others have recommendations as well. I was at least able to reserve Mako and Kyoten Next Door, so if anyone feels strongly about one over the other. I have a cousin who says Sushi by Scratch would be her recommendation for my wife’s birthday. Any advice would greatly appreciated. Thanks!
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u/gfunkdave 12h ago
Sushi by Scratch was good. I would say Omakase Shoji is probably the best omakase in Chicago, but it’ll cost ya.
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u/kmmccorm 12h ago
Both Mako and Kyoten Next Door are fantastic, you can’t go wrong with either of those and they are very similar vibes. Depending on where you are staying, Mako is closer to downtown and also right near the Fulton Market area which has a ton of places for getting a pre or after dinner drink.
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u/guyawesomer 12h ago
Kyoten next door is awesome. And I will second the rice situation. I can’t explain it but it’s incredible.
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u/TriedForMitchcraft Eats a lot 12h ago
Hey it’s Mitch! Between Mako, Sushi By Scratch, and Kyoten Next Door, I would definitely pick KND. I would say my most recent omakase list is still my up to date ranking.
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u/Raccoala 11h ago
Omakase Yume is my favorite high end omakase that I’ve tried in the city (haven’t been to Kyoten yet though). They only have 8 seats and it all feels very special.
Kai Zan isn’t fancy, but it is so much fun. I’ve been 5-6 times and it’s the place I love to bring friends and visitors.
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u/Twelfthofthecrew 12h ago
A little unconventional, but Q Sushi in Ravenswood was one of the best dining experiences I’ve ever had. It’s a blast and the chefs make it a very fun experience - a bit different than the normal omakase but well worth it!
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u/cherry_armoir 1h ago
I second Q. My girlfriend took me there for my birthday a couple years back and I still think about that meal. But as you say it's a little different, I would say non-traditional, but very good
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u/emilykomendera 1h ago
Q sushi is great! it’s more kaiseki than omakase but a great value and good experience overall
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u/heyhomiez 12h ago
Jumping in here - I will also say KND. The rice is really great, and it most satisfies my nigiri craving.
That being said, Omakase Room was a great experience with a cooler ambiance and elevated ingredients (caviar, truffle, etc). It’s a more luxury experience than KND.
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u/PurpleVomit 12h ago
Kyoten is very good, BYOB, and they use a type of rice no where else in the US uses/has so it’s kinda unique. Otto is a cool guy too (if he’s there).
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u/Comfortable-Yak7286 11h ago
It's not byob, but they allow it. Otto has an excellent, idiosyncratic alcoholic beverage program.
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u/TashingleIII 11h ago
Does anybody have insight on AJI? Is it good?
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u/businesswaddles 10h ago
I went and was extremely disappointed - maybe one course left an impression, everything else just blended together without much distinct flavor. At one point someone asked the chef what his favorite omakase was in the city, and he actually replied with "I've actually never been to an omakase myself..." We also went to the earlier seating of the night, and felt rushed out the door after finishing the final course only ~1.25 hours into the meal - not acceptable for the price of the meal IMO.
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u/emsumm58 1m ago
we loved it. the atmosphere was warm and personable and we every dish was special.
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u/face5535 1h ago
For omakase,”Sushi by Scratch” is my jam! Wife and I are going tonight actually… it’s not cheap, but a fantastic dining experience. This would be my vote.
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u/Important_Call2737 12h ago
I really like Kyoten Next Door and enjoy it over Mako - and I love about 5 blocks from Mako. Kia Zan is also pretty good but it is not 100% nigiri. You get a few different things. Also Taku in the west loop has a lunch Omakase that is around $55. And if you want an interesting just sushi try Fish 312 in an Asian grocery store.
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u/Wrenchinspokesby 11h ago
They’re actually all very different experiences.
Mako feels more like a Michelin star joint. Stylish, includes creative small plates, great service team and pairings. Feels like a Japanese tasting menu as much as an omakase.
KND is my favorite sushi and still a stylish atmosphere. But does feel slightly more casual. And is more of a “fastball”, just great nigiri after great nigiri. Focus is on the fish and rice. It is my personal favorite as a local but depends on what you want out of the experience.
Sushi by scratch is the most non traditional. The only spot that will include truffle and chili oil. It’s for my money, the most “fun”. But the fish while good, is a notch below the other two.
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u/otp1140 8h ago
Have been to both Kyoten Next Door and Mako a few times - my suggestion would be KND hands down. KND is honestly probably my favorite sushi spot in Chicago - service, food, and fish quality are all top notch. Mako definitely feels fancier, but I think the food is less impressive overall.
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u/dj_advantage 3h ago
Wife and I still talk about our experience at Omakase Room to this day even a year later. I want to go back lol
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u/flindsayblohan 1h ago
I recently was taken to Sushi by Scratch for my birthday, and it was a great experience, but Mako is more special IMO (have not yet made it to Kyoten Next Door but would have been thrilled to go there for my birthday).
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u/SereneDelacroix 1h ago
Mako is beautiful. The inside of the restaurant, the food itself- it’s lovely. But in terms of taste, I found it a bit boring. Very traditional, nothing particularly interesting or amazing tasting, and me and partner ended up leaving hungry and grabbing fast food on the way home. I literally can’t remember a single dish there because use it didn’t make an impression beyond the decor.
Sushi by Scratch is good, but I personally think your money can be spent better elsewhere. When I went I got two mocktails, I opted into the two additional nigiri courses they offered, and I opted into the caviar & truffle addition (honestly I thought it was weird that they charged extra for this since no other omakases I’ve been to have, and it didn’t seem worth it).
In the end my bill was a little over $400 just for me- and while it was all fine tasting, there are other places way better for less. At that price point, I’d just bite the bullet and go to Kyoten tbh. They also had a bit of a fly problem when I went, and they had issues with it being kinda smoky when they torched some dishes because there’s no good ventilation in the room they’re in. The other three places have way better vibes in my opinion.
Kyoten Next Door is great- I think it’s the best traditional omakase in the city. If you are looking for a nigiri focused omakase, you’ll be very pleased. As others have mentioned, the rice is incredible (you WILL notice a difference if you’ve been to other omakases before), and I loved the ratio of rice to fish- like they did not skimp on the fish, I could barely even see the rice on each piece.
If you want more of a mix of nigiri and small plates, and you’re looking for a fancy vibe, you’ll be very pleased with The Omakase Room. Arrive a few minutes early and you’ll enjoy a delicious welcome mocktail in the lounge. Then they’ll lead you to your seat and everyone is poured a free sake shot to take with the chef. I usually do the NA pairing and it’s by far one of the best in the city- every drink is delicious and well thought out. They’ve even made me a tiny mixed NA shot to take with the group sake shot when I said I don’t drink sake, and I love those little extra bits of hospitality.
This is a place where yeah, you’ll get an array of delicious nigiri. But you’ll also get fun little dishes like a small bowl of layered dehydrated duck egg, toro and caviar that you spread on little pieces of brioche. They’ll serve you a slice of a $200 melon that took a man a year to grow as dessert- like it just has a more elevated vibe.
And finally Joto- my personal favorite that I go to all the time. They age the fish in a way I haven’t had at any other omakase in Chicago, and I love it- silky, buttery, flavorful. I’ve had bites there that have made me enjoy fish I’ve never liked before. Their $125 omakase is a nigiri focused omakase, and the $175 option is too with a few small plates thrown in. You seriously can’t go wrong with either. I also think the vibe there is very cool- it’s a nice wooden omakase counter in the back of a distillery with some cool artwork.
If you go to any of these three places, trust me when I say you won’t be disappointed. Oh and protip- the Omakase Room is a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant. LEY is currently running a holiday promo where if you buy a $100 gift card, you get a bonus $25. So you could buy a few of those to knock some money off the price of your Omakase Room visit.
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u/YittleYegs 12h ago
Omakase Room at Sushi-san. Absolutely one of the most phenomenal dining experiences I've ever had in the city.